The Darth Vader grotesque is just one of over 1,400 grotesques surrounding the Cathedral’s exterior, in addition to 112 gargoyles, according to Bloomberg Connects Cathedral page. In a 2023 NBC Washington article, Kevin Eckstrom, the Cathedral’s chief of communications, said while the grotesques contribute to the aesthetic of the Cathedral, they also serve an important function in preventing water damage by guiding rainfall away from the structure.

Each hand-carved grotesque, originally created in medieval times to ward off evil spirits, possesses a unique design produced by a stonemason, according to the Cathedral’s architecture guide. In Darth Vader’s case, a young boy named Christopher Rader designed the villain’s grotesque for a competition held by the Cathedral and National Geographic in the 1980s, according to an informational graphic from the Cathedral.

Aside from Darth Vader, goblins, forest and farm animals, birdwatchers and humanoids also grace all sides of the Cathedral.

This article was originally published in Issue 36 of AWOL’s magazine on April 15, 2025. You can see the rest of the issue here.

Editing by Ava Ramsdale, Ben Austin, Will Sytsma, Kalie Walker, Caleb Ogilvie, Grace Hagerman and Alexia Partouche.